Cabinet Visits

Shortly after the Cabinet Visits in the spring of 2025, we shared a list of common themes with all staff:

• Student Behavior and Discipline

• Campus Safety and Security

• Training and Professional Development

• PLC Implementation

• Teacher Workload

• Communication and Transparency

• Curriculum and Assessments

• Staffing, Compensation, and Retention

• Teacher Incentive Allotment

These topics represent areas we have been working to refine and improve for years, because they are directly tied to what matters most: student success. To provide the best educational experience for our students, we must continue be the educational choice for families in College Station and a place where the most talented educators want to teach and grow.

The thoughts, questions, and concerns shared during these visits are helping guide district conversations, shape our priorities, and strengthen our transparency through resources like this FAQ. While sharing information online doesn’t solve every challenge, it reflects our commitment to being open about what we’re hearing, clear about what we’re doing, and united in our purpose: ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Clear, timely communication is essential for staff, families, and the broader community, and we want everyone to feel informed and heard. One of the most common topics raised by staff during our Cabinet Visits was how district information (day-to-day operations, new updates, or ongoing initiatives) is shared across schools.

Much of this information is discussed at our monthly leadership meetings (Success Team). To increase transparency and make it easier for everyone to stay informed, we will be publishing meeting notes, summaries, and key resources from these meetings so staff and community members can see the work happening behind the scenes. You can view Success Team resources here.

We are also exploring new ways to gather ongoing feedback from staff, parents, and community members, including surveys, polls, forums, and committees. One specific resource we've looked into is a third-party survey tool that allows for staff, parent, and community interaction, and hope to make progress on developing a plan to implement this resource districtwide. This will help us better understand what’s working, what can be improved, and how we can make communication more effective.

In addition, feedback from staff and parents over the last year prompted us forming a Community Advisory Committee made up of parents, staff, and community members. This group will engage intentionally with the district to discuss priorities, goals, and other important topics, ensuring stakeholder voices play a meaningful role in shaping decisions.

Communication is a shared responsibility, and by listening, collaborating, and engaging together, we can ensure that everyone in the CSISD community feels informed, valued, and part of the work we do to support our students.

Running a school district effectively takes a team: dedicated employees in schools, central office, and support services all working together to give students the best opportunities to succeed. From classroom teachers and paraprofessionals to central office staff supporting curriculum, operations, technology, finance, and safety, every role contributes to the smooth functioning of our schools and the success of our students. While some roles may be less visible day-to-day, every position is essential to the collective work of the district.

Staffing decisions are made thoughtfully with student needs at the center. Each year, district and school leaders review enrollment and student needs to ensure resources are allocated as effectively as possible. Over the years, positions across the district have been added, rehired, left vacant, or lost through attrition depending on district and campus needs, enrollment, and available resources. Every change is carefully reviewed to ensure it supports students and allocates resources effectively. 

Regardless of the position in CSISD, we are one team working toward a common goal: giving every student the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. By coordinating efforts across schools, central office, and support services, we ensure that staff have the tools and guidance they need, and that every student benefits from a united, well-supported district.

Fair and competitive compensation is essential for attracting and retaining the best educators and staff. At the same time, public schools across Texas face ongoing challenges with state funding, which has directly impacted our ability to provide more substantial salary increases and other financial incentives over the years. As funding levels fluctuate, we've had to balance salaries with staffing needs, instructional resources, and operational costs.

Despite these challenges, CSISD has a strong history of prioritizing employee compensation. Over the past 14 years, the district has consistently committed to raising staff salaries. Most recently, the Board of Trustees approved a comprehensive compensation plan that included raises for all teachers and staff, reflecting our community's commitment to valuing and supporting the people who make a difference for students every day.

Below is a historical view of CSISD salary adjustments over the past 14 years, providing context for how the district has worked to recognize and reward the contributions of our employees while balancing fiscal realities and funding constraints.

Competitive pay is just one part of the overall work experience, and we continue to review compensation alongside other supports, professional development opportunities, and staffing models to help create a sustainable and positive environment for all employees.

Supporting high-quality teaching and learning takes the dedication of our entire school community. We are fortunate to have incredible academic support staff, skilled paraprofessionals, and strong campus leadership teams who bring experience, passion, and expertise to every school.

These teams work together to support instruction, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), curriculum implementation, and planning that is purposeful and impactful. These partnerships prioritize what students need most, strengthen instructional practices, and improve outcomes for all learners. Behind every lesson, every planning session, and every innovation is a team of staff and leaders working together to give students the best opportunities to grow and achieve their full potential.

Examples of specific support through professional development include:

• Ongoing PLC Training
• Response to Intervention Training (RTI)
• Training and Supports Related to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
• Assessment Program Training 
• Data Analysis Training

Teaching has become more challenging over the years. Teachers balance instruction, planning, meetings, reporting, and numerous daily responsibilities, all while meeting the evolving academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs of students. In many ways, it can feel like teachers—and public education as a whole—are being asked to do more with less.

Many of these challenges are influenced and compounded by factors beyond our district. New laws, state funding, and resources available to schools across Texas all shape the work teachers are asked to do. While we can’t control every aspect, we remain committed to using our resources as strategically as possible and continuing to advocate for the support our teachers and students need to thrive.

We have to approach these challenges together as a united community. Teachers, campus leadership, district staff, and parents all work together to provide every student the opportunity to grow, thrive, and achieve their full potential. The support and involvement of our community through volunteering, encouragement, and engagement with schools helps amplify our teachers’ efforts and reinforces the shared goal of student success. By listening, collaborating, and supporting one another, we can create the environment that allows both students and educators to succeed.

Supporting student behavior and campus safety is a top priority. Students thrive when teachers, support staff, administrators, and families work together to create a safe, structured, and supportive environment.

We are focused on providing staff with the training, resources, and guidance they need to address student behavior effectively and consistently, while also offering additional support for students who need it most. Feedback from staff through follow-up surveys helps us understand what’s working, what could be improved, and where additional resources may be needed. By collaborating across classrooms, campuses, and the community, we aim to foster an environment where every student feels safe, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Specific training on behavior:

• Behavior Solutions Strategies for Campus Guiding Coalitions
• CPI Training

Recruiting and keeping excellent staff is one of the most pressing challenges public schools face across the state. CSISD has been fortunate to be able to recruit and retain committed, highly qualified employees who have built a strong foundation of excellence, stability, and care for our students and community – but there's always room to get better. We’re working to strengthen partnerships with colleges and universities, develop grow-your-own pathways, and make CSISD a place where educators want to stay by focusing on competitive pay, supportive working conditions, and opportunities for professional growth. Retention isn’t just about salaries, it’s about ensuring teachers feel valued, supported, and equipped to do their best work for students.

Our school leadership teams deserve tremendous credit for creating welcoming, professional, and supportive school cultures. These strong campus environments are the greatest contributor to teacher satisfaction and retention, and they directly impact student success. Because of their efforts, we’re seeing encouraging progress in keeping excellent educators in CSISD.

Teacher retention over the past three years:

• 2022-23: 81.2% (Source: TAPR)
• 2023-24: 82.4% (Source: TAPR)
• 2024-25: 93% (preliminary calculation to be updated upon TAPR release)

The Cabinet Visits provided us with invaluable insight into the experiences, challenges, and successes happening in our schools, and we plan to continue these visits each semester. These scheduled sessions give us dedicated time to listen to staff, but they are just one part of how we stay connected. Cabinet and central office staff regularly visit campuses throughout the year, not just to observe, but to engage with teachers, support staff, and students, celebrate accomplishments, and understand the day-to-day realities that shape learning.

Continuing the success of our district comes from collaboration and shared understanding. Your feedback helps us identify priorities, refine our practices, and make decisions that truly support teaching and learning. As we move forward, we will keep communicating transparently, sharing updates and next steps, and creating opportunities for staff, families, and community members to provide input. Together, we are continuing to provide a place where every student can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential, living out our mission of Success: Each Life. Each Day. Each Hour.